Playing "Bernardo", the older brother of "Maria" in the play West Side Story was a wonderful experience. Jared was transformed -- through changes in my physical appearance, mannerisms and characteristics -- from an "all American" guy to the leader of a Puerto Rican gang. This metamorphosis and performance earned him the nickname "Chameleon" by some of my fellow performers and a nomination as "Best New Comer in a Lead Role". Even Jared's parents didn't recognized him.

Long time viewers of the Broadway production of West Side Story compared Jared's performance to that of the ones they were privileged to have seen in New York over 40 times. Jared received the compliment from these same viewers, through a local reporter, that his performance was one of the best and most convincing they had ever seen on Broadway.